Card-filing device



J. Q. SHERMAN CARD FILING DEVICE Filed Dec'. 27, 1923 PKII IIIILPIeLmTumaauaamufl INVENTOR.

ATORNEY.

Patented 0a. 29, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE JOHN' Q. SHERMAN, OFDAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MEN'IS, TO THE$TANDARD REGISTER COMPANY CARD-FILING DEVICE Application filed December27, 1923. Serial No. 683,068.

My invention relates todevices for-use in card filing systems, and moreparticularly to structures and devices whereby a verycompact, andquickly available means is provided for the filing of and removal fromthe files of desired cards, folders, or envelopes containing otherpapers.

It is my object to provide in as simple a manner as possible for thehousing of a large number of cards, envelopes, etc., within acabinet,'and more particularly it is my object to provide for a seriesof card or,envelope holders permanently secured within-a cabinet, butrendered'individually available in a simple manner.

It is my object to provide on the holders, identifying marks, which arealso finger holds and to use in connection with'the cabinet, a chart orindex whereby the operator can quickly determine the number of theholder in which will be found the card or envelope that he wishes, andwill then select the desired finger hold, and by means of it will movethe holder to a position to expose the card. Each holder will contain anumber of cards, arranged with staggered exposures, to permit of easyselection of the card desired.

' Another object of my invention is to provide an index located 1n aconvenient point with relation to the cabinet, such as on the doorthereof. Another object is to provide a door or lid for the cabinetwhich acts as a writing support-or desk for making entries upon thecards. In crowded oflices this deskcover arrangement is very-valuab e.

' Another object of the preferr d, embodimentof my invention is toprovide for the full length projection of the identifying finger holdsfrom the bodyof the holders, and to provide by means of the swingingdoor or lid for sufficient clearance for the extending elements.

The above objects and other advantages to be noted, I accomplish by thatcertain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter morespecifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of one form of the device when in use.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the device. I

Figure 3 is a perspective view from the side of the cabinet with thedoor open and one of the holders withdrawn for use.

Fgure 4 is a perspective view of apreferred form of holder.

In the preferred form of cabinet I have provided a metal box 1 withafalse bottom 2, preferably screwed to the walls of the box, and withone end of the box open as at 3.

At the open end of the box is mounted a door 4, which is preferablyarranged to be hinged at the base of the box, and is provided with abolt plate 5, which engages the bolt element of a lock 6 on the top ofthe box. This door is preferably'formed with an elevated margin 7, whichabuts against the walls of the box surrounding the opening therein tohold the body of the door away fromtheopen end of the box.

The false bottom of the box is formed with ,a series of guide slots forcard holders and at the rear at the ends of the slots, holder retainingshoulders 8 are formed, the purpose of which will be described below.

said arm passing through slot 10 :formed in the flange ll of the box atthe open end. This will relieve the hinges of the door from the strainresultant upon the use of saiddoor as a writing support.

It will also be noted that-the key chart for the device can best belocated on the inner face of the said door, said chart being indicatedat 12 thereon. A pair of'thin strips I 13 mounted across the inner faceof the door 4: serves to hold the chart in place.

As will be noted the chart is arranged with alphabetical sections, withthe key numbers entered opposite the names, by the operator at the timethat he enters the names.

The'holders in preferred form are made of thin sheet metal having bodies14, of preff end of the lower edge-of each holder.

I form out tongues of metal 17 at staggered positions on the holders forthe'several numerals applied as identifying marks pref erably for bothfaces of-the tongues, or in some other way I provide the holders withextending tongues, which project beyond the forward edges of theholders. The top flange 18 above the opening in the box will preferablybe cut' with interspacedkerfs, one for each holder, and the holders willbe set into the box with their top edges spaced and given,-

a slight frictional'grasp by the kerfs, and with the tongues 17"extending outwardly.

"As shown in Figure 2 the top of the box also has a false topwith slotsand shoulders corresponding with the slots and shoulders in the falsebottom. Tongues similar to those ex tending outat the bottom of theholder also extend out at the top, and the shoulders at the ends of theguide slots in the false top limit the outward movementof the holders atthe top.

The holders will rest in horizontal position on the false bottom of the,box, and the tongues 16 on the back edges of the holders will lie behindthe shbulder 8 of the false base plate, so that the holders cannot beremoved from thebox without unscrewing the false base bottom, and takingthe-structure to pieces. I This is only a preferable form, chosen togive best service by preventing the tampering with the holders, orremoval thereof, so as to make the device foolproof.

The door when closed will have suflicient clearance to fully clear theprojecting tongues 17, and as noted the tongues are,

arranged in a series of slanting rows of vertical tendency across theface of the assembly. The tongues 17 will also be marked. with.numerals, or other designating marks to correspond with the index orchart.

- I have shown cards 19 which will fit within .55 the confines of thebodies of the holder and will have portions of varying lengt cut awayfrom the front'edges thereof, so as to expose a portion 20 of each card,when the i holder is filled. The exposed portions of the cards will bearindicating marks and the exposures in the preferred form will be-instaggered relation similar to the index tabs on the holders; 1

Considering the device as filled "with bold ers. and cards in theholders, the use thereof will be as follows the operator will open thedoor, and consult the name on the chart on the inside of the door forthe key number of the holder in which the card he desires is to befound. He then picks out the tongue 17 hearing the key number and pullsout" the holder as far as it will go. This will make the card that issought, available-to the operator, and he can see from the exposurethereof which one it is, in the holder, and will withdraw it to make hisentry. In making the entry he can lay the card on the inside of thedoor, and jot down his entry whereupon he card and, push the holder willreplace the back in place.

It may be observed of this simplest, and I believe most readily operableform of my invention, that the operator is not required to finger over anumber of cards to find the one he wants, and a little familiarity withthe arrangement of-numbers on the holders,

and with the chart will enable him to select the desired card rapidlywith the least pos- .sible disturbance to other holders or other cards;Every individual card can be given an ample exposure so as to be visibleat once, when the holder is withdrawn, and furthermore, ample space isprovided for the indicators or tabs on the holders, so that the selectedone can be grasped in the fingers.

The great advantage of sliding the holders out horizontally is that itrequires a minimum of mechanical equivalents of the parts named.

. Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

-l, A filing cabinet, comprising an open ended box having a hinged'lidand turned up edges of the lid providing clearance between said lid andthe plane of the edges of the box,

a series of holders in said box slidable edgewise in vertical planes,said holders formed ing a plurality of record papers, means for limitingthe slidable movement of each of said series of holders, said holdershaving cut away portions adjacent the plane of said edges of said box,record papers of such size as to be retainable within said holders,

said p'aper'shaving indicia arranged in staggered relation in verticalplanes so as to be readily accessible for use with the with-',

dra wal of the respective holders from said box, and indicia on saidholdersextending beyond the plane of the edges of the box.

2. A filing. cabinet, comprising an openended box having a hinged lidand turned up .of plates with return bent portions for retainout edgesof the lid providing clearance between said lid and the plane of theedges of the box, a series of holders in said box slidable edgewise invertical planes said holders formed of plates with return bent portionsfor retaining a plurality of record papers, means for limiting theslidable movement'of each of said series oi; holders, said holdershaving cut away portions adjacent the plane of said edges of said box,record papers of such size as to be retainable within said holders, saidpapers having indicia arranged in staggered relation in vertical planesso as to be readily accessible for use with the Withdrawal of therespective holders from said box, and indicia on said holders extendingbeyond the plane of the edges of the box. and means of limiting theopening movement of said lid to a horizontal plane.

3. A filing cabinet. comprising an open ended box having a hinged lidand turned up edges of the lid providing clearance between said lid andthe plane of the edges of the box, a series of holders in said boxslidable edge wise in vertical planes, said holders formed of plateswith return bent portions for retaining a plurality of record papers,means forlimiting the slidable movement of each of said series ofholders, said holders having cut away portions adjacent the plane ofsaid edges of said box, record papers of such size as to be retainableWithin said holders, said papers having indicia arranged in staggeredrelation in vertical planes so as to be readily accessible for use withthe withdrawal of the respective holders from saidibox, and indicia onsaid holders extending beyond the plane of the edges of the box, and akey chart for said holders and papers retained on said lid.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN.

